i love this game!

I love the playoffs. The hard fouls. The Game 7s. The raw emotions. How can you not love this game?

Thought of the Day: Office 2010

Cheeses!

Gonna get my burger on tonight!

Thought of the Day: Hamburgers
Song of the Day: Common-The Game

Warming Up

It's getting warmer every week, so I recently started going out to the courts a little more often than usual. I'm rusty and out of shape like crazy though. I can't play till midnight like I used to, but I still have my basketball buddy who never fails me. If you need to reach me, you know where I'll be.

Thought of the Day: French Cafe
Song of the Day: Green Day-Jesus of Suburbia

Concerned?

The Situation in Korea
I think they pretty much summed up my situation as well. I have bigger concerns over getting my classroom computer's Chrome to update properly. But yeah, you never know.

Thought of the Day: Chrome Installer

Am I Wrong?

I've spent close to a total of 10 hours trying to get my dad's TV tuner to work on his computer. We got the channels and sound coming out but no picture. I've tried so many drivers and 'solutions,' and I've 'given up' so many times that I feel like I can't stop trying. I hate how much it bugs me when there's something wrong with something that ought to be so fixable. Am I wrong? Am I wrong?

Turns out that The Big Lebowski is a pretty funny movie.


Thought of the Day: 합격!

Office Space

My students are on their field trip till tomorrow, so I used this morning to rearrange my desk and move my computer from the floor to the table. Ironically, my desk feels 50% more spacious and presentable. If I can remember where I stored my usb fan, I'll even have a slightly more bearable summer at school this year. I think it was an excellent decision.

I'm going to find a reason to show this video to my classes.

Thought of the Day: Power Cord!
Song of the Day: 장기하와 얼굴들-좋다 말았네

The D is Silent

I had been waiting for Django Unchained for so long that the hype and excitement for the movie died within my heart, especially after the much later release in Korea. But that only made me enjoy the movie so much today that I currently consider it even better than Inglorious Basterds. "I'm curious what makes you so curious." Joe and I were the only ones in the theater laughing throughout the movie. Loved it!

Happy Birthday, Terrance.

Thought of the Day: Exhausted
Song of the Day: De La Soul-My Writes

This week's persecuted church: Mali

This month, Christians from a church in Diabaly gathered for worship amongst bullets on the ground and graffiti on the church wall that reads "Allah is the only one." A few days before that, the church was doubling as a military base after Islamist rebels had been ousted, following a period of violent occupation.

After the occupation was overthrown, Christians returned to their homes. But one pastor believes that the Islamist groups had been tipped off about the church by local support. As a result, neighbors who once lived together in harmony are now suspicious of each other.

Thought of the Day: 17!
Song of the Day: Fun-We Are Young

This week's persecuted church: Nepal

About 30,000 people live in the city where Bilal’s family live, but there are only four or five Christian families. When Bilal died, radical Hindus tried to take his body for cremation, according to Hindu custom. Death, along with birth and marriage, is one of three significant milestones in Hindu culture. By cremating Bilal’s body, the Hindus hoped to erase his Christian testimony. Cremation would be a message in their culture that Bilal hadn’t really been a Christian, that in death he’d returned to Hinduism. Conversely, a grave would be a permanent testimony that this man had died a Christian.

Bilal’s family refused to turn the body over to the Hindus; they wanted a Christian funeral and burial. The family was at home making funeral arrangements with their church’s pastor, Pastor “Sabal,” when they heard shouting outside the house. A large Hindu mob had gathered, shouting threats and demanding the body in order to perform Hindu last rights and cremation.

Sabal told the Hindus that Bilal was a Christian and that his family wanted a Christian funeral. The mob then became enraged, grabbing Sabal and two other Christians and beating them with sticks and their fists. The Christians tried to flee on their bicycles, but the mob continued to attack.

Thought of the Day: Bag
Song of the Day: Jewel-Pieces of You

B-girl

I've seen a lot of breaking in my day, but I've never seen anyone so...

small girl.

I've never seen anyone so small girl!

Thought of the Day: Bitterness
Song of the Day: Jewel-You Were Meant For Me

This week's persecuted church: Somalia

Two masked men killed Ahmed Ali Jimale, a 42-year-old father of four, on Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. as he stood outside his house in Alanley village, near a police station, they said. The killers were suspected to be members of the Islamic extremist Al Shabaab, a rebel militia ousted from the area four months ago but still engaging in hit-and-run tactics. A few of the four rival clans in Kismayo, 328 miles southwest of Mogadishu, are said to be housing members of Al Shabaab.

A businessman, teacher and medical consultant well-known in the area, Jimale ran a pharmacy in Kismayo. He would give private lessons on medicine and first aid, and as an underground Christian – as are all Christians in Somalia – he highlighted the teaching with discussions comparing the Bible and the Koran, sources said.

The students would share these lessons with other children, and this teaching, along with his close work with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that provides aid, appeared to have caught the attention of the Al Shabaab extremists, said a source who worked with Jimale but is no longer in the area.

Thought of the Day: 삼겹살 Day
Song of the Day: Be Still My Soul

Busy Vacation

House searching.
Tax filing.
Application submitting.
Money ordering.

It's all finally done. It's been a busy vacation. Let's start March already.

Thought of the Day: Registration Number
Song of the Day: Deli Spice-고백

Ned Flanders = Walter White

I search through hundreds of pictures whenever I make a powerpoint lesson. Sometimes, I find some pretty interesting and unexpected pictures.

Thought of the Day: 생활 규정
Song of the Day: Eric Satie-Gymnopodie No. 1

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

On February 17th, when Saba BiBi was working in fields of Landlord, there appeared one Muslim man namely Muhammad Akram (also known as Amar) armed with Pistol and forced her to take some secret place with intention of rape and she started to weeping and crying loudly. The culprit also torn her clothes and made her naked, “told Naziran Bibi her mother".

The plight of Christian girls and women who have been forced for conversion to Islam, kidnap, abduction,rape and sexual assault in Pakistan has been on large number published and confined to run-of-the mill articles in the local and international press, sluggish cases in the courts, and common expelled charges due to bribes and personal influence, threats of further violence and family pressure on the victims to avoid at a great distance ‘remorse’.

Thought of the Day: 대동

Poor Ankles

I didn't know he made another one.


Thought of the Day: Productive
Song of the Day: Living Sisters-How Are You Doing?

This week's persecuted church: Indonesia

CCTV footage obtained by the Jakarta Globe shows details of the attack where a gang of about 50 members from the hard-line organization scaled the gates of the religious facility, caused havoc and destruction within the place of worship and physically threatened the minister — at one point using Bernhard’s necktie to strangle him.

Bernhard was arrested by officials from the Sumedang Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) two days later for continuing to hold services without a valid permit, which breaks a 2005 local government law.

The minister is currently serving a three-month sentence at the Sumedang prison as he could not pay the Rp 25 million ($2,600) fine ordered by the district court.

Corry said this is the third major act of violence the FPI has inflicted upon them in the past two years.

The grandmother explained that the latest attack on the church, which has been running for 26 years, had significantly traumatized the 400-member congregation, many of whom are now too afraid to return.

Thought of the Day:  Great Morning
Song of the Day:  Eric Satie-Gnossienne No. 2

Mr. Sick Chap Stick

There are seven essential things I always take with me whenever I go out:  glasses, watch, keys, wallet, cell phone, ear phones, and chap stick. I don't consider myself a forgetful person, but I accidentally leave the house without one of those necessities from time to time. Today was one of those days.  The chap stick.

It's not the end of the world or anything, but I feel like I'm missing a part of myself if I don't have everything with me.  I guess it has something to do with routine and security or something.  BUT! out of my seven necessities and out of all the days I could have forgotten one of them, I'm glad it happened to be the chap stick and I'm glad it happened to be today.

I've been coming in to school these days while most of the teachers have been enjoying their last few weeks of vacation. But there are always a handful of teachers coming in for random duties or supplementary classes. One of the teachers that came in today was this sick guy who coughs, snorts, and spits loudly into the garbage can, almost like he's making it a point to make sure we can all hear his nastiness. We'll call him Mr. Sick.

Anyway, most of the teachers don't really bother to talk to me, let alone make conversation with me. But Mr. Sick decided to have his loud morning coffee next to my desk and make small talk with me.  "Did you go anywhere during the winter vacation? Do you know so-and-so?  I used to be his homeroom teacher." Stuff like that. He eventually went back to his desk, and I got back to work. But after a few noisy coughs here and there, Mr. Sick returned and asked me if I happened to have any chap stick for his dry lips. Disgusted and relieved, I told him I did not. And he went back to his desk.

Nasty Mr. Sick. And that's my Valentine's Day morning for ya. Hope yours is better than mine!

Thought of the Day: Double Down
Song of the Day: Eric Satie-Gnossienne No. 1

This week's persecuted church: China

Cao Nan, a 39-year-old charity worker from the southeastern city of Shenzhen, was detained on December 15 last year after meeting with other Christians in the city's Lizhi Park to sing hymns and preach.

Mr Cao, who worships at an unofficial local 'house-church', said he had been accused of "falsely using the name of Christianity to harm social order" – charges he rejects.

"I am indeed a Christian," he told The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, a day after filing a lawsuit against police. "I did not pretend to be one or use the name of Christianity [falsely]. We were just singing the gospel and preaching Christian principles. I think they just found an excuse to detain people, to warn and to threaten." Mr Cao blamed much of the persecution he claimed to suffer on "national security" agents.

"They are worried that if they allow Christianity to grow, its influence will surpass that of the Communist Party, win the public's favor and challenge the governance of the ruling party. They also have worries that it might be used by anti-China parties or countries," he said.

Thought of the Day:  Lint
Song of the Day:  Jay-Z-La La La

It's a Doozy

It snowed like five inches last night.  On the way to work this morning, I totally stepped into this huge black pool of ice water.  Six seconds after my feet jumped out of that cold nastiness, I heard a woman scream her own icy surprise.  That doozy is deceivingly deep!

Thought of the Day:  Niners!
Song of the Day:  Beyonce-Halo

What a Wonderful World

Thought of the Day:  Word
Song of the Day:  He's Got the Whole World

This week's persecuted church: Syria

Opposition fighters had “deliberately destroyed religious sites” and that the attacks had been carried out after the areas had fallen to opposition control and government forces had left. Churches were raided by armed gunmen after they seized control of the Christian villages of Jdeideh and Ghasaniyeh in Latakia.

They took control of the former on 11 December and, once the government troops had fled, broke into the village church; they stole items and fired numerous shots inside, causing structural damage. The rebels also used the minister’s quarters next to the church to fire at a neighbouring village, where government troops were present.

One resident told Human Rights Watch that opposition fighters stole medicine from a church-run clinic, looted homes and kidnapped civilians. Events in Ghasaniyeh followed a similar pattern. Rebels entered the village in late November, broke into the local church and stole petrol and diesel fuel. They looted homes and kidnapped one resident. The violence and dire humanitarian conditions in Jdeideh and Ghasaniyeh drove Christians to flee the villages in large numbers.

Thought of the Day:  Study
Song of the Day:  Yang Dong Gun-골목길

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

The young daughter of a Pakistani evangelist remained in hiding Wednesday, January 23, after Muslim extremists allegedly threatened to kill her.

"My 10-year-old daughter Shifa Gill is not going to school," said Reverend Kamran Gill, who survived an assassination attempt while evangelizing in Pakistan's Punjab province.

"She is hidden in a secure place right now," he added.

Gill, who lived in provincial capital Lahore before fleeing to the United States this month, told BosNewsLife that the troubles began in June last year when he attempted to preach among those suffering in some of Punjab's notorious brick kilns.

Thought of the Day:  Future

7 Billion

My next speaking class topic is World Population.  Here's a cool video I found for my students:


Thought of the Day:  Taxes
Song of the Day:  6kies-확인

Super

Bowl!

Thought of the Day:  Dinner
Song of the Day:  Sandra McCracken-Rock of Ages When the Day Seems Long

This week's persecuted church: Myanmar

Catholic and Protestant leaders in Myanmar have issued a rare statement calling for an end to conflict in northern Kachin state where three civilians including an elderly deacon were killed by artillery fire on Monday.

Bishop John Hsane Hgyi, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar, and Yin Yin Maw, president of the Myanmar Council of Churches (MCC), yesterday urged an end to recent aerial bombing and artillery fire by government forces and called for international monitors to be permitted access.

The government this month admitted for the first time that it was carrying out air strikes.

The three civilian fatalities on Monday were the first for some time in Laiza, the stronghold of the rebel Kachin Independence Army on the border with China.

Following the attacks, about 200 residents fled to take shelter in two churches in Laiza.

Thought of the Day:  Bingo
Song of the Day:  DC Talk-Colored People

What do we say to the god of death?

Not today.

I thought the show was slow in the beginning, but I'm really enjoying it now.  After this, I'm gonna move on to Boardwalk Empire or Homeland.  Those should keep me busy enough until Mr. White returns.

Thought of the Day:  Game of Thrones
Song of the Day:  Angus & Julia Stone-Big Jet Plane

This week's persecuted church: Colombia

On Monday, Jan 7th 2013, as the family's pastor finished an evening devotional in the home of widow Alicia Castilla, assassins entered the home and opened fire on her with pistols, killing her instantly in front of her three children and her father.

An Open Doors worker who cannot be named for security reasons told World Watch Monitor that before leaving the home, the guerrillas told Castilla's son, 18-year-old Hernán, that the rest of the family had three days to leave the region. After that, the killers warned, they would return and one by one kill other family members.

Castilla's death follows the murder of her husband, lay evangelist Nelson Ramos, two years before, in January 2011, also at the hands of the ELN. The armed rebel group holds a virtual sway of terror over the area.

Ramos, who had come to faith in Christ two years before his death, often shared the gospel in Saravena, a border town near Colombia's frontier with Venezuela. A few months after his conversion, the ELN issued its first expulsion order against him and his family.

Thought of the Day:  Nap
Song of the Day:  Deli Spice-고백

Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak

For today's speaking class, our topic is about North Korean teenage defectors.  Instead of merely imagining and discussing opinions, I think it will be good for my students to see and hear from real defectors directly.  I think it was good for me to see and hear this for myself as well.

Thought of the Day:  Cold School
Song of the Day:  Aha-Take On Me

I Dreamed A Dream

Not for everyone and not easy to watch but very impressive.

"Anne Hathaway reportedly blew everyone away at her audition, leaving them in tears."
-IMDB Trivia

Thought of the Day:  Look Down!  Look Down!
Song of the Day:  Fantine-I Dreamed A Dream

This week's persecuted church: Colombia

For more than 40 years, Colombia has been terrorized by kidnappings and murders resulting from power struggles between drug lords, revolutionaries and paramilitary groups. But in the midst of the chaos, brave Christians in Colombia are risking their lives to spread the gospel. VOM is committed to helping them, and our readers from across the country are joining the effort.

One of VOM’s partners in Colombia is a pilot named Russell. VOM helped Russell purchase an airplane, and today that plane flies over FARC-controlled areas of Colombia dropping small packages attached to parachutes. The packages, which float down into FARC camps and villages, each contain a selection of Christian books as well as a solar-powered Galcom radio pre-tuned to a Christian station. Before the parachutes are dropped, the radio is turned on so that even if the parachute catches in a tree, someone will hear the radio and climb up to retrieve it.

Thought of the Day: HAPPY Birthday
Song of the Day: The 5, 6, 7, 8s-Woo Hoo

계란 한 판

I turned 30 in Korea a few days ago.  It seems like everyone feels more depressed than thankful on their birthdays once they become an adult.  We get so focused on losing youth or not accomplishing certain things by a certain age.  There is no longer HAPPY; it's just BIRTHDAY now (and often a secret one).  What happened to celebrating the fact that you're still alive after so many years?  Why do we limit these celebrations to 100 days or the first birthday for Korean babies?  I say be thankful every year for how long you've been alive but also for how you're being "recreated" along with the rest of the world.  Let's learn to embrace our new age this year and anticipate the eventful years ahead.

Thought of the Day: Bow

Song of the Day: Angus & Julia Stone-Big Jet Plane 

This week's persecuted church: Nigeria

Suspected Islamist extremists have killed 15 Christians by slitting their throats in an attack on a village in Nigeria's volatile northeast, residents and a relief source said Sunday. The gruesome violence was the latest to be blamed on Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, though this Christmas season has been notably less bloody than in 2011, when attacks on churches and other locations left scores dead.

"From the information we gathered, the attackers broke into selected homes and slaughtered 15 people in their sleep," the relief official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
Authorities had previously confirmed the predawn Friday attack in Musari, but gave few details and said only five were killed. Musari is located on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Boko Haram's base.

Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, spokesman for a military task force in the area, told AFP on Sunday that he stood by the toll of five dead, adding that some were shot and others attacked with machetes. Nigerian authorities tend to under-report death tolls however, and the relief official's information matched up with that of residents, who spoke of 15 people having their throats slit.

Thought of the Day: Winter Camp
Song of the Day: Sara Groves-Maybe There's a Loving God

It's Showtime!

"I thought I would never see Showtime again. The Clippers are Showtime! THIS is Showtime."
-Magic Johnson


Thought of the Day:  막걸리
Song of the Day:  Blur-Song 2

Is this your church?

Thanks, Sam!

Thought of the Day:  전구
Song of the Day:  The Temptations-My Girl

고백

Love this song/performance!

This week's persecuted church: Laos

As a member of the government, Boun had permission to cross in and out of Thailand to conduct business. There, in 1997, he sought out the man he had heard speaking on the radio.

The Christians there were afraid of him, and he was just as afraid they would report him to the Lao government. But the man he sought was willing to meet with him. This man took him to a private room and explained Christ to him. The soldier was baptized that night and began to share the gospel wherever he went.
The authorities warned him over and over to stop preaching. He was let go from his job. He was arrested June 8, 1999, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. On Feb. 2, 2012, he was released, two years early.

Thought of the Day:  담배가게 아가씨
Song of the Day:  담배가게 아가씨

Following the Leader

There are two things that I've always hated talking about.  Politics and the economy.  Unfortunately, these two subjects seem to get thrown at me more and more as I get older and become a bigger part of society.

Last night, I tossed and turned in my sleep after hearing about Korea electing its first female president.  I even had a dream that I was working for her red-colored administration with some of the staff at my school. Ms. Park let us off early that day and everyone was happy, including myself.

News articles say that the no. 1 issue for most voters is the economy.  That means that the candidate who offers the most financial benefits will win the election, apparently even at the cost of moral issues.  That is why a leader's character and integrity are considered secondary to their financial promises and economic plans, and corruption can easily be ignored, explained, or excused.  There is a self-serving agenda on everyone's mind.  Is it any wonder why bad leaders get elected?

Thinking and talking about the recent election in Korea, I am reminded of God's anger and displeasure with the nation of Israel throughout the book of Ezekiel.  The widows, orphans, and foreigners are neglected while the poor are abused.  Everyone is selfish and greedy.  Killing and injustice are rampant.  There is a lot of judgment ready to be poured out.

But as I think about these things, I am also reminded of the few who are faithful, living under godless leadership during the times of Daniel and Esther.  Despite the oppression and in the midst of the wailing and cries of the suffering, we have a small number that is living upright and honest lives.  They may not be able to overthrow or change the government, but they choose to live in a way that challenges it and points to the real leadership that every creature is under.

America or Korea, you may be happy or upset by the newly elected leaders that will lead for the next 4-5 years.  If you are happy, do not put your hope in the government administration that is prone to all sorts of unspeakable evils.  If you are upset, do not feel so disappointed and helpless because every country is still in the bounds of God's rule and sovereignty.  Do not worry about the daunting present or unforeseeable future that we cannot control, but live faithfully now and never lose hope for a good tomorrow that is promised to come.

Thought of the Day:  Passionate
Song of the Day:  Third Day-Your Love Oh Lord

This week's persecuted church: Iran

Thought of the Day:  Candy Canes
Song of the Day:  Sara Groves-Star of Wonder

Kill Park

You have to be in Korea to understand/enjoy this.

Thought of the Day:  피부과
Song of the Day:  The Game (feat. 50 Cent)-Hate It Or Love It

This week's persecuted church: Cuba

David became a believer when he was 15 years old. His family kicked him out of the house, and he was forced to work as a field hand to sustain himself. He didn't give up his faith though, and at 22 he became a pastor. At 57, he’s lived through the decades in which many Cuban Christians left the island and the church was whittled down to a faithful few. He also led his church during times of revival. But “if you want to pastor in Cuba, you cannot say anything against the government,” he said.

He has been interrogated more than 20 times, and humiliated, beaten and threatened. His interrogators blamed him for the growth of his church, accusing him of using “secret indoctrination methods” from the United States. For these offences, he was forced to spend six months cleaning public outhouses every day. He was also prohibited from leaving the island for more than four years. The officials in charge never told him why his exit permits were never granted. There was always an excuse: “We lost the paper work!” or “We never got your application.”

When David was finally able to obtain a telephone connection for his house, the first phone call he received was from the state security office, warning him that they knew his phone number and they knew all about him. They even described the color of the books in his office, and told him, “We can make something happen to you if we want.”

Thought of the Day:  버럭
Song of the Day:  Dumb Ways to Die

Shaqtin' A Fool

Simon, this one's for you.


Thought of the Day:  RAM
Song of the Day:  Oasis-Champagne Supernova

Dumb Ways to Die

Thought of the Day:  Chocolate Cake
Song of the Day:  The Beautiful Mistake-A Cradle in Bethlehem

Childish

Legos are the best toys in the world.  I used to be obsessed with these building blocks as a child, but I still like to stop by the toy aisle every once in a while to see some of the newest Star Wars or Technic series' models.  I secretly want to buy a lot of the overpriced Star Wars stuff, but I restrain myself because I know I would hate myself for buying something so


childish (expensive).


But I couldn't hold back from getting the best of two worlds: Legos + Transformers!  Although I wanted to buy some Decepticons that come with cool Kreons, I knew they would be way too childish (expensive).  So I settled with the smallest Optimus Prime.  I still haven't built it yet, but I get happy every time I look at the box.  Still a child.

Thought of the Day:  Sujin
Song of the Day:  Justin Bieber-Mistletoe

Mixed Feelings

Thought of the Day:  TGIT
Song of the Day:  Jars of Clay-Worlds Apart

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

On Friday afternoon, Sept. 21, a mob of several thousand radical Muslims attacked St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mardan City, Pakistan. The attackers, armed with rifles and kerosene, overwhelmed security guards and broke into the church. They destroyed Bibles and prayer books, desecrated the altar and set fire to the church building and several surrounding homes and buildings. The mob was returning from a protest against the film Innocence of Muslims, which has sparked violence in many Middle Eastern countries this month and led to the death of Christopher Stevens, U.S. Ambassador to Libya. In Pakistan, the government had declared Sept. 21 a national holiday in honor of Muhammad, and the day had been set aside for peaceful protests.

The attack on the 82-year-old church lasted for five hours. The church staff was able to flee, but those who lived on the campus lost everything. An adjoining high school, a Christian library, a computer laboratory, the bishop’s house, the bishop’s office, a pastor’s house and the school principal’s house were all burned. The mob also burned a car, three motorcycles and three bicycles. More than 2,000 Bibles, 100 New Testaments and several hundred Christian books and DVDs were destroyed. The attackers spray-painted the words “God is great,” “Oh God help us” and “Love our prophet” on the church steeple.

Thought of the Day:  Turkey!
Song of the Day:  The Beatles-Hey Jude

Jealous and Thankful

Today, my brother sent me pictures of the nasty Thanksgiving food that he was forced to eat while I got to eat awesome, healthy school food. I feel sorry for him every year.

Simon

Me

Just.
Kidding.


Today, a good buddy of mine from the states sent me a nice email:

Phil!

I am thankful for your friendship. I am also thankful for the many bottles of soju, the many dead pigs, the many Phil-osophical discussions, and the many renditions of Bohemian Rhapsody we have shared. Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving/Friday, everyone!

Thought of the Day:  Uniqlo

Song of the Day:  Silent Night

This week's persecuted church: Syria

Two members of the United Bible Society were kidnapped by radicals recently in Aleppo. The kidnappers demanded a $200,000 ransom, according to a VOM contact who is close to one of the men. One of the kidnapped men was released a few days later, but the other remains with his captors. In response to the kidnapping, another Syrian partner wrote, "The pressure on Christians started, and many of the Islamic groups are working hard to oblige the Christians to leave the country." He also reported that many churches have been damaged in the fighting. "During the last year we had a number of churches destroyed," he wrote. "[That has] never happened in Syria, even during the whole last hundred years." Pray for wisdom for Syrian Christians, who must decide whether to flee or stay. Also pray for the safe and quick return of the Bible Society worker still being held for ransom.

Thought of the Day:  Schedule Change
Song of the Day:  Sara Groves-Miracles

2/3

I finished my leisure and bathroom reading this week.  I guess there's something about setting goals that really pushes us to accomplish them...fast.  I can't say that I really enjoyed the sequel to Bram Stoker's Dracula.  In fact, it was a pretty horrible book that I regret reading.  If there was ANYTHING that I got out of it though, it was one line that came towards the end of the story:  We learn from pain.

When I was in college, the only science classes that I ever took were from this one professor who had a series of courses on the brain.  I remember learning about the rare case of a young girl who was born with a brain that didn't have pain receptors.  While we think it would be wonderful to have a life without any physical pain, it actually endangered the young girl who eventually died at an early age.  Too much harm was being done to her body and she was never aware of it.  She simply was unable to "learn from pain."  It turns out that we need these unpleasant signals in order to survive in this dangerous world...especially in the world of vampires.

My bathroom reading, on the other hand, turned out to be a very good read.  I had often heard preachers praise the commentaries of N.T. Wright, but it wasn't until I first read one of his books that I actually got a glimpse of his brilliance.  I don't have the knowledge or eloquence to give an apt summary of the book or even of what I learned.  So I leave you with three memorable quotes that I took time to write down from Justification:

Quote #1:  Paul does not say, 'I am in Christ; Christ has obeyed the Torah.; therefore God regards me as though I had obeyed the Torah.' He says: 'I am in Christ; Christ had died and been raised; therefore God regards me - and I must learn to regard myself - as someone who has died to sin and been raised to newness of life.'

Quote #2:  We are not saved from the world of creation, but saved for the world of creation. Humans were made to take care of God's wonderful world, and it is not too strong to say that the reason God saves humans is not simply that he loves them for themselves but that he loves them for what they truly are - his pro-creators, his stewards, his vice-gerents over creation.

Quote #3:  When people believe the gospel of Jesus and his resurrection, and confess him as Lord, they are in fact doing what Torah wanted all along, and are therefore displaying the necessary marks of covenant renewal.

I'm finally going to start Wicked and Keller's book, The Meaning of Marriage.

Thought of the Day:  회

Song of the Day:  Kim Jong Kook-남자가 다 그렇지 뭐

This week's persecuted church: Iran

The 34-year-old pastor from Rasht, which is about 750 miles northwest of Tehran, was arrested in October 2009 after protesting a government policy that required children, including his 8- and 9-year-old sons, to study the Quran in school. He was later charged with apostasy and evangelism to Muslims. Youcef was tried on Sept. 21–22, 2010, by the First Court of the Revolutionary Tribunal and convicted of apostasy. He was sentenced to death on Nov. 13.

Authorities tried to re-convert Youcef to Islam through a variety of methods, including medication, while he was in Lakan prison. After he repeatedly refused to renounce his Christian faith, his wife was arrested, put on trial without an attorney and sentenced to life in prison. She was later released when an attorney appealed her sentence.

Although acquitted by the courts, Youcef may now face other dangers. Another pastor imprisoned on apostasy charges, Mehdi Dibaj, was abducted and murdered less than two weeks after his release in 1994. Middle East Concern reports that at least 16 other Christians remain in detention because of their activities. Some are serving prison sentences of up to six years because of their faith.

Thought of the Day:  라임
Song of the Day:  Toy-뜨거운 안녕

This week's persecuted church: Russia

Unidentified workers, backed by police and civil volunteers, tore down the Holy Trinity Pentecostal Church in east Moscow in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, then accused the pastor of holding an unapproved meeting for the worship service he led on the grounds of the destroyed church two days later. The workers came at midnight with bulldozers and diggers, looting the building of sound equipment, musical instruments, service books and Communion materials before using heavy equipment to demolish the structure. A church caretaker was taken to the police station and prevented from contacting church members for three hours.

Thought of the Day:  Pho
Song of the Day:  O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

This week's persecuted church: Tanzania

Christians in Tanzania have lost churches, homes, cars and livestock in a series of recent attacks, and some have received physical injuries. In the most recent attack, Muslims returning from worship at a mosque on Friday, Oct. 12, burned a car belonging to Bishop Muhiche of the Tanzania Assemblies of God church. After burning his car, the extremists moved on to destroy the pastor’s church.

That same day, in Ushirombo District of Shinyanga Region, Muslim extremists attacked the Reverend Victor Simbaulanga. Enraged by an open-air evangelistic meeting the pastor was leading, the attackers beat Simbaulanga so severely that he had to be hospitalized. A VOM contact is working to have the pastor transferred to a hospital in a safer area so he won’t be attacked again.

Thought of the Day:  4-0?
Song of the Day:  Psy-Gangnam Style

Prescription

I've been sick for just over three weeks now with this heinous cough that just will not go away.  But I got a nice prescription to relieve some of the pain.

Did you see Verlander go 'wow'?  Ha!

Thought of the Day:  Happy Birthday, 마.
Song of the Day:  Blur-Song 2

How about

them Giants???

We're going to the World Series, baby!!


Thought of the Day:  칼국수
Song of the Day:  OK Go-Here It Goes Again

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

On Friday afternoon, Sept. 21, a mob of several thousand radical Muslims attacked St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Mardan City, Pakistan. The attackers, armed with rifles and kerosene, overwhelmed security guards and broke into the church. They destroyed Bibles and prayer books, desecrated the altar and set fire to the church building and several surrounding homes and buildings. The mob was returning from a protest against the film Innocence of Muslims.

Thought of the Day:  Zoo
Song of the Day:  Nirvana-Drain You

This week's persecuted church: Kenya

Gatei was in the room when a grenade exploded at about 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 30 at St. Polycarp, of the Anglican Church of Kenya, on the Juja Road in Nairobi. The explosion killed the boy and injured eight other children. Sally’s own son had been in there, too, only three minutes before.

“The most amazing thing, though, is that, although we thought we should cancel Sunday school the next Sunday, most children insisted we should meet as usual, even though the room had not yet been repaired!”

This attack came shortly after a Somali member of Al Shabaab had been sentenced to 59 years in prison after he confessed in court to planning attacks on Parliament. At his arrest, together with a second man, the two had, according to the police, confessed to have targeted four Nairobi churches.

Case of the Mondays

I usually wake up at 6 and leave the house by 7:20.  This morning, I woke up at 7:20.

Thought of the Day:  Horses

Song of the Day:  Jaci Velasquez-Sanctuary

Sick of Being Sick

I haven't been sick in over a year, so I started getting all proud of my health streak...until the other day.  I got a bad cold and the worst neck pains I've ever had in my life.  I even lost my voice for the first time so that was interesting and annoying.  Today, one of my co-teachers sent me this message:


i'm sorry Mr. Jung... you don't have to fill out the selecting the NEXT YEAR'S  English text books..
only Koren teachers.

Seeing  your sick neck, I feel very sorry ... poor Mr. Jung  ㅜ.ㅜ
Take care of yourself...



아 참..Question!..
show the inner side...대신 show the inner self.........the same?


Along with the message, she attached a picture of this:

Cause we all know how effective pictures of koalas can be for the common cold, right?  What a funny lady.

But I am getting better!

Thought of the Day:  Seven Classes!

Song of the Day:  Honey Family-우리 같이해요

This week's persecuted church: Pakistan

A 14-year-old girl with mental disabilities was arrested for defaming Islam on August 16 after she was allegedly spotted by neighbors with a plastic bag containing burned pages of the Quran.  After being held for more than three weeks, the case took an unexpected turn on Saturday when a local imam was accused by a member of his mosque of planting the burned pages in the girl's bag with the intent to drive Christians out of his Islamabad neighborhood.  However, once you have been accused of blasphemy it means the reolocation of your family even if you are acquitted by the court.

Thought of the Day:  Molinism
Song of the Day:  Sara Groves-When It Was Over

추카추가

Welcome to the club, guys.  Congratulations!

Thought of the Day:  Dracula
Song of the Day:  Keane-Everybody's Changing

9.18

I turned 6 years old in Korea this past Tuesday.  This was the first time I had forgotten about my overrated anniversary.  Does this mean something?  Some of my friends like to use words like "lifer" or "forever" whenever they talk about how long I've been here.  In the past, it used to make me sad.  But maybe now, I'm starting to embrace it.  Just maybe.

September 18th also marked my third month at my school.  I had my first observation class and got a score of 89.  I hadn't written a proper lesson plan in so long that I had forgotten to put in any explanations or directions.  After all, lesson plans are merely references and outlines for the teacher.  I totally could've gotten an A-.

Anyway, the kids are getting ready for the midterms, which means I'm getting new lessons ready for post-추석.  I had a lot of trouble thinking of a good first activity for my third year students but finally came up with a press conference.  Here's what I'm going to show to introduce the lesson:


You have no idea how much I've come to embrace powerpoints and Youtube in the past three months.  Happy Friday.

Thought of the Day:  Book Orders!
Song of the Day:  Sara Groves-First Song That I Sing

This week's persecuted church: Somalia

A Somali Islamic fundamentalist group accused Christian aid workers in Somalia of spreading Christianity in the coastal city of Merca.  The group said that if the Christianization in Somalia does not stop, the people have a right to jihad.  The vice chairman of the group said in an interview tht all Somalia Christians must be killed according to Islamic law.  He concluded his interview by saying that Somalis are 100% Muslim and they will always remain so.

Thought of the Day:  Waterguns
Song of the Day:  Jay Sean-Down

Naked Taboo

I've been playing Naked Taboo in my classes these days.  Korean teenagers never fail to surprise me:

Word:  "Bulgogi"

Taboo:  Clue given-"fire meat"
Charades:  Clue given-student points at his thick dark arm.  Team gets guesses correctly.


Word:  "Milk"

Charades:  Student acts out cow and milking the cow.


Word:  "Ballet"

Charades:  This is hilarious every time.


Word:  "Still"

Charades:  Student pretends he's going to steal a base.


Word:  "Still"

Charades:  Student does "Gangnam Style" dance.  No one gets it and in frustration he goes, "야 니네들 스타일 뭔지도 모르냐?!"


It's Friday!


Thought of the Day:  Martin!
Song of the Day:  Paul Oakenfield-Starry Eyed Surprise

Teaching Ups and Downs

My head teacher likes sending me random jokes from time to time.  Today, he sent me:

그 강아지는 숲 속으로 뛰어갔다.

The dog ran into the woods. (X)

The dog ran into the soup. (O)

Today, I kicked out one of my students for the first time for talking too much.  But when I went outside to go talk to him and bring him back in, he wasn't even in the hallway.  What an adolescent.

Thought of the Day:  Stye

Song of the Day:  Psy-강남스타일

This week's persecuted church: Uzbekistan

Eleven Protestants in Nukus were questioned at the public prosecutor's office and pressured to convert to Islam.  They were also threatened with being shot, though the city prosecutor denied this.  He also tried to have a Protestant expelled from his university medical course, but the man has resisted the pressure.  This kind of pressure is also continuing elsewhere in Uzbekistan.

This week's persecuted church: China

Peace in the Lord! On this past Sunday, we held the thirty-fifth outdoor worship service of this year. The weather remains sunny and hot. As far as we know, one sister was taken to be detained at a hotel on Friday. And on Sunday morning, at least twenty-two believers were taken away from locations near the platform for attending the outdoor service. They were then sent to three different local police stations. Thirteen believers were released by noon, and the rest of them were released one after another by 20:00pm on Sunday.

Xie Min, maltreated during her detainment last Sunday, now temporarily moved to live with another sister. However, after Xie moved in, they often got harassment. They got strange visitors, and the home phone number of the host even got posted on the webpage of a website providing housing information. We strongly protest against such harassment.

Thought of the Day:  G-Dragon
Song of the Day:  S.E.S-달리기